Indian tennis star Sania Mirza lashed out at fans and critics who blame sportspersons’ partners for their failures. Recently many cricket boards cut the time that cricketers could spend with their family on overseas tours including Pakistan's board.

This came after Pakistan’s poor performance in the World Cup and players were seen enjoying meals and other facilities instead of practicing and focusing on the games, as per fans’ views. Mirza said saying such attitude stems from a "deeper problem which says that a woman is a distraction she cannot be a strength."

Mirza who is now the UN Women Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia was speaking at the India Economic Summit.

"Many a time, including our cricket team and in many teams I have seen that wives or girlfriends are not allowed on tour because the boys will be distracted. What does that mean? What is it that the women are doing that is going to distract the men so much? See the thing is that comes from a deeper problem which says that a woman is a distraction she cannot be a strength," the Indian women's tennis pole bearer lamented.

Mirza further argued that players focused more on the game if they are with their families and loved ones on longer overseas tours. "They don't come back to an empty room, they can go out and have dinner ... when you have your wife or your partner there it gives you support, it gives you love," she added.

When asked about her being blamed for the Pakistan team's loss in the World Cup, Mirza quipped: "And I'm not even from there, what powers I must have". Mirza is married to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik.

She further said, "Anushka Sharma is blamed if Virat makes a zero, like what does that have anything to do with anything. It makes no sense."

(PTI Inputs)